[kictanet] kictanet Digest, Vol 111, Issue 64

Thu Aug 18 17:16:03 EAT 2016

The future is here! And there is very little we can do about it. 

Etinick Mutinda
Digital Literacy Advocate

--------------------------------------------
On Thu, 8/18/16, kictanet-request at lists.kictanet.or.ke <kictanet-request at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

 Subject: kictanet Digest, Vol 111, Issue 64
 To: "Etinick Mutinda" <etinickm at yahoo.com>
 Date: Thursday, August 18, 2016, 4:39 PM

 Send kictanet mailing list
 submissions to
     kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke

 To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
     https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
 or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help'
 to
     kictanet-request at lists.kictanet.or.ke

 You can reach the person managing the list at
     kictanet-owner at lists.kictanet.or.ke

 When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more
 specific
 than "Re: Contents of kictanet digest..."

 Today's Topics:

    1. Fwd: No laughing matter - if you
 haven't been hacked you
       will.. (Ali Hussein)

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

 Message: 1
 Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2016 16:31:55 +0300
 From: Ali Hussein <ali at hussein.me.ke>
 To: kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
 Subject: [kictanet] Fwd: No laughing matter - if you haven't
 been
     hacked you will..
 Message-ID: <6C7FA641-023D-4AD6-891A-D84808D873C9 at hussein.me.ke>
 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

 Listers..scary stuff..

 > 
 > 
 >  
 >         
 FOLLOW   

 SUBSCRIBE   
          ANON
 TIP        
 > 
 >     August 18, 2016    
 > 
 > 
 >     
 > Whenever there?s a new leak of classified documents,
 it?s always fun to run through it and see what kind of goofy
 names the men in black at the National Security Agency have
 come up with. The latest breach is no exception?it?s a
 treasure trove of hilarious monikers like EPICBANANA,
 WOBBLYLLAMA and EGREGIOUSBLUNDER.
 > 
 > These names all refer to exploits that are available in
 a cache of software from a gang known as the ?Equation
 Group,? which a number of security analysts say is likely a
 front for the National Security Agency. Another group called
 the ShadowBrokers is trying to unload the whole thing for
 about $600 million in bitcoin.
 > 
 > As Fortune?s Robert Hackett has noted, whistleblower
 Edward Snowden believes the software came from a staging
 server the Equation Group forgot to wipe, which was
 subsequently hacked by Russia. He suspects the code may have
 been used on some of the U.S. government?s enemies and
 possibly even allies.
 > 
 > Why does any of this matter? Well, in part because it
 contributes to the overall destabilization of global
 geopolitics, but also because it reinforces the point that
 this kind of hacking is as mainstream as it gets. This isn?t
 a new Bond film or William Gibson novel set in some
 apocalyptic hellscape. It?s happening right now.
 > 
 > What that means is that if you haven?t been hacked, you
 probably will be?maybe not by the NSA or its front men, but
 by someone. And not just you, but your company and your
 school and probably your church, and definitely your
 country. And there?s very little you can do about it.
 Welcome to the future.
 > 
 > Mathew Ingram is a contributing editor at Fortune.
 Reach him via email.
 > 
 >  
 > 
 >  
 > 
 >  
 > 
 >     
 > BITS & BYTES
 > 
 > 
 >     
 > Intel and AT&T get cozier for the sake of the
 cloud. The chip maker will give the telecommunications giant
 early access to new technologies as part of an expanded
 partnership intended to boost its data center business.
 Intel has similar relationships with massive Internet
 services companies, including Amazon, Facebook, Google,
 Microsoft, and several Chinese tech titans. (Fortune)
 > 
 > Why Apple is a logical customer for Intel's new
 chipmaking service. The iPhone maker currently designs chips
 for its smartphone using modified plans from ARM, Intel's
 new partner, and then outsources the manufacturing. Working
 with Intel would allow it to further diversify its strategy.
 (Fortune)
 > 
 > Microsoft takes issue with calling the iPad a computer.
 As Apple's tablet gains mindshare with large businesses, the
 software giant is pitching its alternative Surface Pro more
 aggressively. It's using the Siri and Cortana voice
 assistants to tell the story. (Fortune)
 > 
 > It's not your imagination, mobile prices are higher.
 Record low customer defection rates have halted drastic
 promotions from the big three wireless carriers: AT&T,
 Verizon, and T-Mobile. Customers are paying more for
 wireless data?AT&T disclosed higher fees Wednesday?but
 many are also getting more in their plans. (Fortune)
 > 
 > Cisco confirms job cuts amid sluggish growth. The
 networking equipment maker is reducing its workforce as
 revenue for traditional businesses such as routers continues
 to decline. The numbers discussed on its fourth-quarter
 earnings calls Thursday were smaller than reported,
 though?5,500 employees, or about 7% of total headcount.
 (Fortune, New York Times)
 > 
 > Plus, there's more pain to come. The tech industry has
 shrunk by almost 63,000 positions so far this year. An
 analyst for Global Equities Research predicts the
 industrywide number could reach 370,000. (Reuters)
 > 
 > Monsanto expands digital farming platform. Its Climate
 Corporation subsidiary is building a network of in-field
 sensors that will capture data about soil, weather, and
 other conditions. That information will be fed into its farm
 management software. The agricultural giant has invested
 more than $1 billion in its digital capabilities over the
 past several years. (Reuters)
 > 
 >  
 >     
 > THE DOWNLOAD
 > 
 > 
 >     
 > Why Google and Microsoft are fighting for students.
 Tech titans know that if they want to expand their customer
 bases, they've got to get 'em while they're young.
 > 
 > Microsoft is the incumbent power in "productivity
 applications" used by many information workers. But Google
 Apps for Work has made inroads, particularly among startups
 and smaller companies. Read more about their clash over
 classrooms.
 > 
 >  
 >     
 > IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
 > 
 > 
 >     
 > Watch Elon Musk Divulge His Biggest Fear About
 Artificial Intelligence, by Robert Hackett
 > 
 > Instagram Now Lets Users Discover New Events-Themed
 Videos, by Kia Kokalitcheva
 > 
 > How to Keep Your Job When Robots Take Over, by Tiger
 Tyagarajan
 > 
 > How Startup EventBoard Combats Zombie Meetings, by
 Heather Clancy
 > 
 > McDonald's Pulls Fitness Trackers From Happy Meals
 After Complaints of 'Skin Irritation', by Michelle Toh
 > 
 >  
 >  
 >  
 >  
 >     
 > ONE MORE THING
 > 
 > 
 >     
 > Some tech firms declare Election Day an unofficial
 holiday. More than 180 companies, including Square,
 SurveyMonkey, and newly public Twilio, are giving workers
 time off on Nov. 8 to get to the polls. (TechCrunch)
 > 
 >  
 >     
 > 
 > 
 >     
 > This edition of Data Sheet was curated by Heather
 Clancy.
 > 
 > Share it: http://fortune.com/newsletter/datasheet/.
 Find past issues.
 > Sign up for other Fortune newsletters.
 > 
 >  
 > 
 > 
 > 
 >     
 >     

 > 
 >     This message has been sent to you
 because you are currently subscribed to Data Sheet
 Unsubscribe here. 
 > 
 > Please read our Privacy Policy, or copy and paste this
 link into your browser: http://www.fortune.com/privacy 
 > 
 > Advertising Info | Subscribe to Fortune 
 > 
 > For Further Communication, Please Contact:
 > FORTUNE CustomerService
 > 3000 University Center Drive 
 > Tampa, FL 33612-6408 
 > 
 > 
 > 
 >     
 > If you believe this has been sent to you in error,
 please safely unsubscribe.
 > 
 -------------- next part --------------
 An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
 URL: <https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/pipermail/kictanet/attachments/20160818/78a382ab/attachment.html>

 ------------------------------

 Subject: Digest Footer

 _______________________________________________
 kictanet mailing list
 kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke
 https://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet

 ------------------------------

 End of kictanet Digest, Vol 111, Issue 64
 *****************************************